Actor, Entertainer. Born in Santa Monica, California, he was the son of actor and singer Dean Martin (his 5th of 7 children) and his 2nd wife Jeanne Biegger Martin (her oldest child). As a youth, he was encouraged toward a singing career and at age 13 he joined Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche to form the rock group Dino, Desi, & Billy, which had a few minor hits in the US between 1965 and 1968, including "I'm a Fool" (1965), landing in the Top 30 twice. Afterwards, he became a moderately successful tennis player, competing in a junior competition at Wimbledon, and an actor. He co-starred with actress Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film "Players," in which he played a professional tennis player and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best New Star of the Year - Male. He later starred in the TV series "Misfits of Science," which aired during the 1985-1986 television season. He obtained his pilot's license at age of 16 and became an officer in the California Air National Guard in 1981, rising to the rank of captain. He died at the age of 35 when his Air National Guard F-4C Phantom jet fighter departed March Air Force Base, California and unexplainably crashed into California's San Gorgonio Mountain during a snowstorm, killing him along with his Weapons Systems Officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz. He was married to actress Oliva Hussey from 1971 to 1978, with whom he had a son, and to Olympic gold medal ice skater Dorothy Hamill from 1982 to 1984.
Actor, Entertainer. Born in Santa Monica, California, he was the son of actor and singer Dean Martin (his 5th of 7 children) and his 2nd wife Jeanne Biegger Martin (her oldest child). As a youth, he was encouraged toward a singing career and at age 13 he joined Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche to form the rock group Dino, Desi, & Billy, which had a few minor hits in the US between 1965 and 1968, including "I'm a Fool" (1965), landing in the Top 30 twice. Afterwards, he became a moderately successful tennis player, competing in a junior competition at Wimbledon, and an actor. He co-starred with actress Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film "Players," in which he played a professional tennis player and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best New Star of the Year - Male. He later starred in the TV series "Misfits of Science," which aired during the 1985-1986 television season. He obtained his pilot's license at age of 16 and became an officer in the California Air National Guard in 1981, rising to the rank of captain. He died at the age of 35 when his Air National Guard F-4C Phantom jet fighter departed March Air Force Base, California and unexplainably crashed into California's San Gorgonio Mountain during a snowstorm, killing him along with his Weapons Systems Officer, Captain Ramon Ortiz. He was married to actress Oliva Hussey from 1971 to 1978, with whom he had a son, and to Olympic gold medal ice skater Dorothy Hamill from 1982 to 1984.
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Bio by: William Bjornstad